Base assembly and washing machine with the same

ABSTRACT

A base assembly and a washing machine with the same are provided. The base assembly includes a base plate defining a bottom; and at least one first damper supporting member detachably provided on the base plate to support the damper absorbing vibration of an object.

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P2004-39560 filed on Jun. 1, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a base assembly of a washing machine, which defines a bottom of a cabinet of the washing machine.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, a washing machine is designed to perform washing, rinsing and spinning cycles by rotating a drum installed in a tube. At this point, laundry is loaded in the drum while water mixed with detergent is barreled in an inner-lower portion of the tub.

That is, the washing machine is a device for removing stain or dirties from the laundry by using detergent and applying mechanical force.

Particularly, in a drum-type washing machine, the drum is horizontally disposed and driven by driving force of the motor to remove the dirty from the laundry loaded therein. The drum-type washing machine has an advantage in that the laundry is not tangled and damaged while using a less amount of water.

A conventional washing machine includes a cabinet defining an outer appearance of the washing machine, a tub disposed in the cabinet to receive washing water, a cylindrical drum rotatably disposed in the tub to receive laundry, and a damper for absorbing vibration of the tub, and a base defining a bottom of the cabinet.

The cabinet is provided with a control panel with buttons and switches for inputting an operating condition and a detergent box connected to a water supply unit to supply washing water together with the detergent.

In the conventional washing machine, the laundry is washed by chemical reaction of the detergent and by water current and frictional force generated by the drum rotation.

The damper has an upper end connected to a lower outer surface of the tub and a lower end connected to a corner of the base, thereby attenuating the vibration generated from the tub.

Accordingly, the base functions to define the bottom of the cabinet and to support the damper connected to the tub.

That is, a damper supporting member is integrally formed with the base. The integration of the damper supporting member with the base makes it difficult to displace and exchange the damper supporting member.

Therefore, there is a need for a base assembly to which a damper supporting member is detachably attached and which can be used regardless of the volume variation and vibration property of the tub.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a base assembly and a washing machine with the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with a base assembly having a detachable damper supporting member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing assembly with a base assembly that can used regardless of the volume variation and vibration property of a tub.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a base assembly including: a base plate defining a bottom; and at least one first damper supporting member detachably provided on the base plate to support the damper absorbing vibration of an object.

The first damper supporting member comprises a base coupling portion coupled to the base plate; and a damper connecting portion provided on a top of the base coupling portion to support the damper.

The damper connecting portion comprises a pair of supporting walls spaced away from each other to support lower both sides of the damper; and hinge holes formed on the respective supporting walls.

The base plate comprises at least one mounting portion on which the first damper supporting portion is selectively mounted.

The mounting portion is provided along at least one corner of the base plate.

The mounting portion comprises an aligning portion aligning the first damper supporting member.

The aligning portion comprises at least one aligning projection extending upward to align the first damper supporting member.

The first damper supporting member comprises at least one aligning groove corresponding to the aligning projection.

The base assembly may further comprise at least one second damper supporting member integrally formed on the base plate.

The second damper supporting member is provided at least one corner of the base plate.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine, including: a cabinet defining an outer appearance; a tub provided in the cabinet to store washing water; a drum rotatably provided in the tub to receive laundry; and a base assembly provided on a lower portion of the cabinet, wherein the base assembly comprises a base plate defining a bottom of the cabinet; and at least one first damper supporting member detachably provided on the base plate to support the damper absorbing vibration of the tub.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine with a base assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base plate of a base assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first damper supporting member of a base assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first damper supporting member at a corner portion of a base assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a base assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 shows a drum-type washing machine with a base assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a washing machine of this embodiment is a drum-type, including a cabinet defining an outer appearance of the drum-type washing machine, a base assembly 100 defining the outer appearance together with the cabinet, a tub 200 provided in the cabinet, a drum 300 rotatably installed in the tub 200, and a rotating unit 400 rotating the drum 300.

The cabinet includes a pair of side plates (not shown), a rear plate 101 provided on rear portions of the side plates and the base assembly 100, a front plate 102 provided on front portions of the side plates and the base assembly 100, and a top plate 103 provided tops of the side plates, the rear plate 101 and the front plate 102.

Here, the front plate 102 is provided with an opening (not shown) through which laundry is loaded and unloaded and a door 102 a opening/closing the opening.

A control panel (not shown) for controlling the operation of the washing machine is installed on an upper portion of the front plate 102 or a rear corner of the top plate 103.

The tub 200 is supported by a spring 210 connected between the top of the top plate 103 and the upper portion of the tub 200 and a damper 220 disposed between the base assembly 100 and the lower portion of the tub 200. The tub 200 is provided at a front portion with an inlet opening (not shown) corresponding to the opening of the cabinet.

The drum 300 is provided with a plurality of through holes (not shown) through which washing water passes. The drum 300 is further provided at an inner wall with a lifter (not shown) for lifting the laundry to a predetermined height.

When the drum 300 rotates, the laundry loaded in the drum is repeatedly lifted by the lifter and dropped by gravity, thereby performing the washing cycle.

The drum 300 is provided at a front portion with an inlet opening (not shown) corresponding to the inlet opening of the tub 200, thereby defining a laundry loading/unloading portion into/from the drum 300 together with the openings of the cabinet and the tub 200.

The rotating unit 400 may be formed of an induction motor or a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor that is provided rearward of the tub 200. A rotational shaft of the motor is connected to a rear end center of the drum to rotate the drum 300 in a bi-direction.

Installed on a lower portion of the tub 200 are a drain pump and a drain hose. A water supply unit is connected to an upper portion of the tub 200 and a detergent box connected to the water supply to supply the water together with the detergent.

FIGS. 1 through 4 show the base assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the base assembly 100 according to the first embodiment includes a base plate 110 defining a bottom of the cabinet and one or more first damper supporting members 120 detachably provided on the base plate 110.

Legs 139 are detachably coupled to corners of the base plate 110 to support the same.

The first damper supporting member 120 is designed to support the damper 220 such as a friction damper connected to a lower-outer circumference of the tub 200 to absorb vibration of the tub 200.

The first damper supporting member 120 includes a base coupling portion 121 coupled to the base plate 110 and a damper connection portion 122 integrally formed on an upper portion of the base coupling portion 121 to rotatably support the lower end of the damper 220.

The damper connection portion 122 includes a pair of supporting walls 122 a extending upward from a top of the base coupling portion 121 and a pair of hinge holes 122 b respectively formed on the supporting walls 122 a.

The damper connection portion 122 is connected to the damper by damper pins or bolts inserted in the hinge holes 122 b.

Alternatively, hinge shafts may be integrally formed on a lower end of the damper and inserted into the hinge holes 122 b.

The base plate 110 is provided with one or more mounting portions 111 on which the first damper supporting member 120 is selectively mounted.

The mounting portion 111 is formed along at least one corner of the base plate 110. A plurality of mounting portions 111 on which the first damper supporting member 120 is selectively mounted are provided on opposing corners of the base plate 110.

The mounting portions 111 are arranged along the corners of the base plate with a predetermined space from each other.

Each of the mounting portions 111 is provided with a first coupling holes 11 a used for screw-coupling to the base coupling portion 121. The base coupling portion 121 is provided with a second coupling hole 121 a corresponding to the first coupling hole 111 a.

The mounting portion is further provided with an aligning portion 111 b aligning the first supporting member 120 on the mounting portion.

The aligning portion 111 b includes at least one aligning projection formed extending from a top of the base plate 110 to align the base coupling portion 121.

In this embodiment, each of the mounting portions 111 of the base plate 110 is provided with a pair of aligning projections for guiding both sides of the base coupling portion.

Here, the aligning projections are formed in a cylindrical shape. The base coupling portion 121 is provided at both surfaces with a semicircular aligning grooves 123 corresponding to the aligning projections.

The number and shape of the mounting portion are not limited to the above.

The assembling process of the first damper supporting member 120 on the base plate 110 will be described hereinafter.

The number of dampers 220, which is proper to a size and vibration property of the tub 200, is first determined and the mounting portions formed on a portion corresponding to the damper 220 are selected.

The first supporting member 120 is aligned on the aligning portion 111 b of the selected mounting portion 111.

At this point, the pair of aligning projections are inserted into the aligning grooves 123 formed on the both surfaces of the base coupling portion 121 to align the location of the first damper supporting member 120.

Next, the first damper supporting member 120 is securely coupled to the base plate 110 by, for example, a screw in a state where the first coupling holes 111 a formed on the base plate 110 are aligned to the second coupling holes 121 a formed on the base coupling portion 121.

Then, a lower end of the damper 220 is inserted between the pair of supporting walls 122 a of the damper coupling portion 122 and a damper pin or a bolt is inserted through a hinge hole 122 b formed on the supporting walls 122 a to rotatably connect he first damper supporting member 120 to the damper 220.

When the detachable first damper supporting member 120 is used, it can be provided on a proper location to support the proper number of dampers 220 that are provided on proper locations in accordance with the volume of the tub 200. Therefore, there is no need to prepare a special base plate to support the dampers 220.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a base assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numbers will be used in this embodiment to refer to the same or like parts as in the first embodiment. The detailed description of the like parts will be omitted herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, a base assembly 500 of this embodiment includes a base plate 510 defining a bottom of the cabinet, a first damper supporting member 120 detachably provided on the base plate 510, and at least one second damper supporting member 520 integrally formed on the base plate 510.

Describing in more detail, four legs supporting the base plate 510 are provided on respective corners of the base plate 510. At least one mounting portion on which the first damper supporting member 120 is mounted is at least one corner of the base plate.

Since the first damper supporting member 120 and the mounting portion are identical to those of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted herein.

The second damper supporting member 520 includes a pair of supporting ribs 521 extending upward from the corners of the base plate 510 and hinge holes provided on the respective supporting ribs 521 and rotatably support the damper 220.

In this embodiment, the second damper supporting member 520 is formed on each of the opposing corners of the base plate 510. The present invention however is not limited to this case.

Since the base assembly of this embodiment has also the detachable first damper supporting member 120, a special base assembly proper to the number and location of the dampers supporting the tub is not required even when the size and volume of the tub 20 are varied.

The effect of the above-described washing machine of the present invention will be described hereinafter.

1. Since the first damper supporting member is detachably provided, it is possible to exchange the first damper supporting member when it is damaged or broken.

2. Since the number and location of the first damper supporting members can be properly selected in response to the volume variation and vibration property of the tub, the base assembly can be commonly used.

3. Since the aligning portions are provided to align the first damper supporting member to a predetermined location, it is easy to assemble the first damper assembly.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A base assembly comprising: a base plate defining a bottom; and at least one first damper supporting member detachably provided on the base plate to support the damper absorbing vibration of an object.
 2. The base assembly of claim 1, wherein the first damper supporting member comprises: a base coupling portion coupled to the base plate; and a damper connecting portion provided on a top of the base coupling portion to support the damper.
 3. The base assembly of claim 2, wherein the damper connecting portion comprises: a pair of supporting walls spaced away from each other to support lower both sides of the damper; and hinge holes formed on the respective supporting walls.
 4. The base assembly of claim 1, wherein the base plate comprises at least one mounting portion on which the first damper supporting portion is selectively mounted.
 5. The base assembly of claim 4, wherein the mounting portion is provided along at least one corner of the base plate.
 6. The base assembly of claim 4, wherein the mounting portion comprises an aligning portion aligning the first damper supporting member.
 7. The base assembly of claim 6, wherein the aligning portion comprises at least one aligning projection extending upward to align the first damper supporting member.
 8. The base assembly of claim 7, wherein the first damper supporting member comprises at least one aligning groove corresponding to the aligning projection.
 9. The base assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one second damper supporting member integrally formed on the base plate.
 10. The base plate of claim 9, wherein the second damper supporting member is provided at least one corner of the base plate.
 11. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet defining an outer appearance; a tub provided in the cabinet to store washing water; a drum rotatably provided in the tub to receive laundry; and a base assembly provided on a lower portion of the cabinet, wherein the base assembly comprises: a base plate defining a bottom of the cabinet; and at least one first damper supporting member detachably provided on the base plate to support the damper absorbing vibration of the tub.
 12. The base assembly of claim 11, wherein the first damper supporting member comprises: a base coupling portion coupled to the base plate; and a damper connecting portion provided on a top of the base coupling portion to support the damper.
 13. The base assembly of claim 12, wherein the damper connecting portion comprises: a pair of supporting walls spaced away from each other to support lower both sides of the damper; and hinge holes formed on the respective supporting walls.
 14. The base assembly of claim 11, wherein the base plate comprises at least one mounting portion on which the first damper supporting portion is selectively mounted.
 15. The base assembly of claim 14, wherein the mounting portion is provided along at least one corner of the base plate.
 16. The base assembly of claim 14, wherein the mounting portion comprises an aligning portion aligning the first damper supporting member.
 17. The base assembly of claim 16, wherein the aligning portion comprises at least one aligning projection extending upward to align the first damper supporting member.
 18. The base assembly of claim 17, wherein the first damper supporting member comprises at least one aligning groove corresponding to the aligning projection.
 19. The base assembly of claim 11, further comprising at least one second damper supporting member integrally formed on the base plate.
 20. The base plate of claim 19, wherein the second damper supporting member is provided at least one corner of the base plate. 